This post has everything you need to know about getting free tickets to TV show tapings and live broadcasts of popular shows in NYC.
Having lived in NYC all my life, I've been to many TV tapings and they are a blast to attend. Since it's a free activity, I especially like it!
Below I go over which shows you can attend, how to apply for tickets for each of those shows, and what to expect on the day of the show.
I provide some tips based on my experience going to TV tapings over the years and also include a bit about taking an NBC Studio Tour.
In the video below, Katie, my fellow tour guide at Tours by Foot, tells you about the basics. Read through the post for details for specific shows.
Attending a live TV taping is one of the best free things to do in NYC.
There is a wide array of shows you can choose from including daytime talk shows, late-night talk shows, comedy shows, news shows, and more.
Live TV show tapings are an easy way to see your favorite celebrities.
Because it's free to attend a live taping, there is some competition to get tickets. Each show taped in NYC has its own ticket request method.
Some require that you request tickets months in advance, and some have same-day seats available.
I go over this for each show discussed in this post.
Generally, you will spend two hours checking in, going through security, and being seated. Add on the hours of the show taping and plan your schedule accordingly.
Note that some shows will take up more of your day than others.
TIP: If you are really into TV and movies, you might be interested in an NYC TV and Movie Sights Tour, which is included for free with several NYC tourist deal passes.
LATE-NIGHT TALK SHOWS
The below shows air in the evenings, generally after 11 pm.
These are shows that I've attended over the years and are now among the most popular so expect some fierce competition to get tickets to these.
Except for Saturday Night Live which broadcasts live, all the below shows tape in the late afternoon/early evening.
Click on the show you are interested in for all the details about getting tickets and tips for attending.
- Saturday Night Live
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
- Late Show with Stephen Colbert
- The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
- Late Night with Seth Meyers
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
- Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Saturday Night Live
This iconic comedy show broadcasts live on...you guessed it, Saturday nights!
Here's a brief summary of the ticket request process.
For an in-depth explanation of getting tickets and some fun history of SNL, see our post on how to get Saturday Night Live Tickets (or Standby Tickets).
NOTE: The ticket lottery for SNL's 2024-2025 season has officially closed.
The next ticket lottery for the 2025-2026 season will begin on August 1, 2025, and runs throughout the entire month.
Starting next August 1-31, email your ticket request to snltickets@nbcuni.com.
Include your full name, email address, and the reason why you would like to be a part of SNL's live studio audience.
Only one entry is allowed per household, so you and your family members can’t send separate entries.
If selected:
- You will receive two tickets for a specific date. They are given randomly; you cannot pick your dates when you enter.
- Your two tickets will be either for the live taping (11:30 pm) or the dress rehearsal (8 pm).
- You must be at least 16 years of age to attend the show.
- You will only be notified if you are selected.
If you aren’t selected (but want to try anyway):
Try to get standby tickets.
The line is on the 48th Street side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza and tickets are distributed at 7 am on the day of the show.
Be warned: you are in for a long wait.
People often camp out overnight to get standby tickets. You must stay in line the whole time (except for short, necessary breaks.)
As annoying as this is, it happens to be a pretty fun experience!
I've met a lot people while waiting in line during the times I've gone to the show.
Tickets are first-come, first-served and do not guarantee entry into the show.
You can choose to be on standby for either the dress rehearsal or the live taping.
Read our detailed guide to getting Saturday Night Live Tickets.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
This show tapes Monday through Friday at 5 pm. The show airs on weeknights at 11:35 pm EST on NBC.
How To Get Tickets:
Here's a summary, but I recommend you see our in-depth post on getting tickets to the Tonight Show.
Tickets are released about a month in advance, so it is possible to plan ahead for this one in conjunction with your trip.
The first step is to sign up with 1iota, the website that handles many TV taping ticket requests.
This applies to any shows that use 1iota to process requests. It's super easy to do!
After signing up with 1iota, the site directs you to The Tonight Show's website where you can see what dates are available.
The video explains how to request tickets once you have created a 1iota account.
If you get tickets:
- The person who reserved the tickets must be present. They will check IDs to match names.
- No groups larger than four people may book.
- No cameras, phones, or electronics of any kind will be allowed into the taping.
- No one under the age of 16 may attend the taping.
- Those attending are asked to keep to a “smart casual” dress code.
- No bags larger than small purses will be allowed in.
This last bullet point should be taken seriously.
I learned this the hard way. After a day of shopping with a friend, we went to the show with several big bags each.
We were told we couldn't bring the bags in with us.
Luckily my friend worked at Rockefeller Center so she ran back to her office and dropped our shopping bags off.
You won't likely have this same luxury, but you can drop off any big bags at a very affordable nearby short-term bag/luggage storage location.
If you don’t get tickets:
Standby tickets (referred to as "standby cards") are distributed from 10 am to 3 pm on the morning of a show at the "Shop at NBC Studios" at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
Standby tickets do not guarantee entry into the show.
If you don’t make it by 9 am, you can inquire about standby tickets at the NBC Experience Store.
If you don't get tickets, why not take our self-guided tour of Midtown Manhattan since you are already in the area?
Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The show airs at 11:35 pm EST/PST on CBS. Tapings occur once a day on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. On Thursdays, two tapings occur.
Tapings run from 5:30 pm to 7 pm at the famed Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway between 53rd and 54th Streets.
Be sure to read our post on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert for detailed information on the show and tickets.
How To Get Tickets:
Ticket requests can be made for the following month at the start of the current month. You can request up to two tickets per person.
Ticket requests go through 1iota, the company that handles ticket requests, as explained above in the video.
Submitting a request puts you on a waitlist to have your request processed.
Ticket requests are processed between two weeks and up to 24 hours before the show date.
The video below explains the waitlist process.
If your ticket request is approved, you’ll get an email asking you to confirm your attendance.
Find out more about the process from 1iota's FAQ section.
For detailed information on how to get tickets, read our post for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The Daily Show tapes at 4 pm, Monday through Thursday at 733 Eleventh Ave between 51st and 52nd Streets.
The show airs on weeknights at 11:00 pm on Comedy Central.
I saw the show when Trevor Noah took over for Stewart, and didn't have too hard of a time getting tickets. I imagine that the process has become a bit more competitive now that Stewart is back.
But I'm not sure, so go for it!
How To Get Tickets:
Read our full guide to getting tickets to the taping of the Daily Show. Here is a summary:
If you get tickets:
- You must arrive no later than 4:30 pm. If you arrive before the rest of your party, you can pick up only your ticket. The others must pick theirs up by 4 pm, or they may be given away.
- The taping usually lasts until 7 or 7:30 pm.
- You must be 18 or older.
- You may not bring recording devices of any kind.
- The show is sometimes overbooked, so having a reservation does not guarantee entry into the taping!
If you don't get tickets:
Keep trying. Unfortunately, The Daily Show does not give out standby tickets.
Late Night With Seth Meyers
Late Night is taped at the NBC Studios Monday through Thursday at 4:00 pm, with check-in from 2:45 pm.
The show airs on NBC in the 12:35 am time slot.
Below is a summary but for in-depth information on getting tickets, be sure to read our detailed post.
How To Get Tickets:
Tickets are usually released about a month in advance, for example, tickets for June tapings will become available at the beginning of May.
You can book tickets in advance. Typically they are released 4-6 weeks in advance.
Like other shows in this post, ticket requests go through the 1iota website.
If you get tickets:
- You may get up to 4 tickets at one time.
- The reservation holder must attend. The tickets will only be released to the person who reserved them.
- You may only reserve tickets once every 4 months.
- You must be at least 16 years old to attend Late Night with a valid ID.
- Any cancellations must be at least 24 hours in advance.
- You will not be allowed to bring any large bags, phones, cameras, or other electronics into the studio.
TIP: The show means it
Standby Tickets
Currently, Late Night does not offer standby tickets.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The show tapes on Sundays at 6:15 pm. It airs on Sundays at 11 pm on HBO.
It is taped west of Midtown at the CBS Broadcast Center at 530 West 57th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues (map).
How To Get Tickets:
You can request up to 4 tickets per request on their website, Last Week Tonight.
There you can request tickets for tapings approximately 33 days in advance, and not before.
So for example, tickets for a show on the 29th of a month become available on the 27th day of the month before at 2 pm.
Ticket lotteries will be held on Tuesdays at 3 pm EST (subject to change).
Note: Because there is such a high demand for tickets, they ask – practically beg – that if you attended any prior taping, please don’t apply again.
Do NOT enter multiple times in the same lottery or you will be eliminated from that lottery.
If selected:
- You must be at least 18 to attend.
- You must arrive 40 minutes before taping.
- You'll need a photo ID with the name matching the reservation to claim your tickets.
- Large packages, shopping bags, suitcases, and backpacks are not allowed in the studio.
- The suggested dress code is “smart/casual”.
- Taping studios often run cold, so bring a jacket or sweater to wear inside.
Standby:
Most years, there is no official standby line. But for the 2025 season, there will be a standby line this season.
Please do not line up or come to the studio before 3:15 pm on any Saturday we are taping the show.
Note that standby tickets are extremely limited.
TIP: Follow the show on Twitter for updates on last-minute ticket availability.
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee
The show tapes on Wednesdays at 5:45 pm (airs every Monday at 10:30 pm on TBS) at the CBS Broadcast Center at 528 West 57th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues.
Because the studios are a bit far from central Midtown Manhattan, use this link to get exact directions.
How To Get Tickets:
Note: Once the show knows when live in-studio shows will begin again, they will announce new shows on their website.
First, before requesting tickets, make sure everyone in your group is 18 years or older.
If not, don’t bother filing a request form as there is an age requirement.
If that isn’t an issue, go to this website, The Blacklist NYC - Full Frontal Show, to request tickets.
On the website, you will be able to see show dates for the upcoming four Wednesdays. You will be asked to select a date and an alternate date.
Since they offer tickets for shows as soon as that upcoming Wednesday, they require that you live in the New York City area or will be in NYC during the filming week to be eligible for tickets.
While you can request your tickets when you are NOT in NYC, you should plan to be in NYC for the dates you select.
This means in effect that it isn’t a show you want to try to see if you are only in town for a few days.
After you submit your request, you will immediately get an acknowledgment email. After that point, you will not hear anything back from them unless you are granted tickets.
If you are selected for tickets, within 5-7 business days of your request, you will get an email with detailed information about attending the show.
If you are selected for tickets:
- Must be 18 or older to attend the show
- Arrive by 5 pm
DAYTIME SHOWS
Many talk shows and news shows air during the day. Some broadcast live and others are taped in advance.
Based on my experience and that of my friends, daytime shows are a little bit easier to score tickets for than the comical late-night shows.
Click on the link to the show you are interested in to go to the detailed information below to get tickets.
- Good Morning America
- The Today Show
- The Kelly Clarkson Show
- The View
- Live! with Kelly and Mark
- Rachael Ray Show
- Fox and Friends
Sadly, there are no daytime game shows filmed in NYC. How I would love to be in the audience for The Price is Right!
You can see game show tapings in Los Angeles if you pass through town.
Good Morning America
GMA airs live Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 10:30 am.
The "studio" is in an enclosed area outside, in front of the show's actual studio which is in Times Square on the corner of West 44th Street and Broadway.
To be part of the live studio audience, you have to be willing to get up pretty early as you must check in no later than 7:15 am.
Since you will be done by 10:30 am, why not explore Times Square?
Tickets are free and can be requested up to 25 days in advance. Like other shows, 1iota handles requests. Check the website for details.
If you want to see free concerts by top musicians, look into the GMA Summer Concert Series.
The concerts take place in Central Park. Last year performers were Carrie Underwood, Kane Brown, Green Day and Nicky Jam.
I confess that I have never gone to any of these concerts despite my decades in NYC.
Why? Because shows start at 6:30 am! That is way too early for me.
If you are an early bird and get tickets for one of the shows, you may as well spend some time in Central Park afterward since you will be right there.
See our post on things to do in Central Park.
For other free concerts in NYC in the summer, click here.
The Today Show
The Today Show does not have a studio audience, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be a part of it!
The Today Show invites anyone and everyone to join them outside of their studios in Rockefeller Center.
This is a good option for those traveling with kids since most live tapings have some kind of age limit.
On weekdays the show is filmed outside from 7 am until 9 am.
At 9 am, the show and anchors move inside but you can stay and watch from the window and possibly be seen on camera!
How to attend:
Though not required, the show recommends you RSVP so your check-in process will go more smoothly. RSVP here.
On the day you want to go, gather outside Studio 1A on 48th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.
Use the entrance at 48th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues where you will have to pass through a security check.
Note that Mondays and Fridays are the busiest days. On Sunday the show starts at 8 am so try to arrive 45 minutes earlier.
My tips for maximum fun:
- Bring a poster and fun signs - the wackier the better. The Today Show likes people to have fun! Mondays and Fridays are the busiest days.
- For a better chance to meet the hosts and be seen on TV, get on the line by 6:30 am to get a spot behind the barricades surrounding the plaza.
- Tell your friends to watch at home so they can video you on TV!
Today Show Concert Series
Every summer, the Today Show holds free, short concerts outside their studios.
The lineups feature some of the top performers of the day.
Get there by 6 am for the best spots. Find out more here.
TIP: There are so many free concerts in the summer in NYC, You should check our summer guide as well as our posts for May, June, July, and August to see who's playing.
The Kelly Clarkson ShowShow
The Kelly Clarkson show is free to attend and tapes at NBC Studios located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
The show tapes twice a day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Taping times are at 9:30 am and 1:15 pm.
Tapings are about 2 hours long. Your confirmation email - if your request is accepted - will tell you when to arrive.
How To Get Tickets:
You can request up to 4 tickets per request on their website, The Kelly Clarkson Show. All people in your party must be 18 years of age or older.
All currently available dates are listed on the calendar on the website request page, generally 7 days at a time.
- Just as above, submit a form to the show’s 1iota website. If you haven't created an account, do so.
- Once you have submitted a request, you will be added to the request queue.
- You'll be invited by email if the show can accommodate your request.
If You Get Tickets:
- Check-in on the day of the taping at 30 Rockefeller Plaza using the 50 W. 50th Street entrance.
- Reservations do not guarantee admission so make sure you arrive on time, if not even a bit earlier than check-in time.
- Bring ID to show proof that you are 18 or older.
- Guests are encouraged to dress business casual. They encourage you to wear bright solid colors. No busy patterns, stripes or logos.
- Please be aware that all audience members will go through a metal detector and a bag search.
- The following are NOT allowed in the studio: backpacks, luggage, large shopping bags, promotional items, mace, spray bottles, food, drink, or weapons of any kind.
Standby Tickets:
At 8 am EST, standby cards for both shows taping that day will be available in The Shop at NBC Studios, located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (via the 6th Avenue entrance between 49th & 50th St.)
Space is limited so standby cards are limited to one (1) per person (18 years of age or older) and are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
Standby cards do not guarantee admission.
The View
The View with co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Ana Navarro airs live in front of a studio audience from Monday to Friday from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Guests can reserve tickets to attend a free taping on their website.
How To Get Tickets:
Read our full post on getting tickets to The View for more information on the show and tickets.
Below are some things to know:
If You Get Tickets:
- Guests must be at least 16 years of age.
- Guests are required to adhere to a rather strict dress code. No tank tops, large logos, t-shirts, or solid white or black tops are allowed. Guests are encouraged to dress "upscale casual," and look trendy or fashionable. For a full list of their dress code policy, click here.
- Photography is permitted but only during designated times of the taping.
- No food or drink is allowed, and guests are required to go through a security check.
LIVE! with Kelly and Mark
It is not too complicated to get tickets to see Kelly Ripa and her co-host/husband Mark Consuelos, and they are lots of fun to see!
Read our full post LIVE! with Kelly and Mark tickets for all the details and tips on getting tickets.
Here's a summary:
- The show tapes Monday through Friday starting at 9:00 am Tapings generally last 60-90 minutes.
- Ticket availability is posted one month at a time, usually about 17 days in advance of that month.
- The show tapes at the ABC Studios on Columbus Avenue and 67th Street, just a block west of Central Park.
Rachael Ray Show
The Rachael Ray Show stopped taping in 2023.
The Rachael Ray Show is free to attend and tapes at Chelsea Television Studios, 221 West 26th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.
The show tapes 3 a day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The times are:
- 11:00 am (arrive by 10:00 am)
- 2:30 pm (arrive by 1:30 pm)
- 4:15 pm (arrive by 3:15 pm)
How To Get Tickets:
- Submit a form to their website. Do NOT submit more than one form or else your request will be made void.
- Guests will NOT receive a confirmation email upon submission. Instead, they will contact guests with available taping dates if granted tickets.
- Guests will receive their tickets via email 2 weeks before the show.
- Groups are allowed but must fill out a different form.
If You Get Tickets:
- All guests who are 16 years of age and older must bring a valid photo ID
- Guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
- Guests are encouraged to dress business casual. For a full list of their dress code policy, click here.
- Food, drink, weapons, large bags, cameras, or gum are NOT allowed in the studio.
Standby Tickets:
To get a standby voucher, arrive at the studio at 10:00 am for the 11:00 am taping, at 12:00 pm for the 1:30 pm taping, and at 3:15 pm for the 4:15 pm taping.
A standby voucher does not guarantee a ticket to the show.
Fox and Friends
As of 2025, Fox and Friends does not have a live audience.
The show airs live from 6 am - 9 am from Fox Studio’s famed “Studio F” at 1211 Avenue of the Americas at the corner of 47th St.
The show's audience is kept very small with about 50 people. This means that the chances of being selected to be in the audience are pretty slim.
TV STUDIO TOURS
Although many shows are taped in New York City, there is only one studio tour you can take, the NBC Studio Tour.
Fortunately, the NBC Studio Tour is a fantastic experience.
To find out more about this tour, including prices, schedules, and reviews, read our in-depth post on the NBC Studio Tour.
Currently, there are no ABC Studio tours, Fox Studio tours, or CBS Studio tours.
OTHER SHOWS
Inside the Actors Studio
This show is hosted by Frazier star Kelsey Grammer, who conducts one-on-one interviews with well-known actors and actresses from film and TV.
The audience is filled with faculty and students of Pace University where the show is hosted.
There is some room for members of the general public, but the audience is quite small.
Specific taping dates are not listed on their website as the show tapes sporadically.
To find out about upcoming tapings, send an email to insidetheactorsstudio@pace.edu.
To try to get into the audience, join the standby line one hour before the taping time. The line forms at the Schimmel Center at 3 Spruce Street.
Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, based on availability.
There is no guarantee you will get a seat, so have a backup plan on what to do with that time instead.
Luckily, you will be in Lower Manhattan which has tons of things to do. See our post on things to do in Lower Manhattan.
Movies Filmed In New York City
A complete list of movies filmed in NYC is too long to include in this post, but check out our full post on Movie Locations in New York City.
Here are a few that we have written about and in some cases created self-guided tours of some of the filming locations.
Ghostbusters was filmed all over New York City as was When Harry Met Sally. Many superhero movie locales can be visited as well.
With so many holiday movies filmed in the city, you may want to take an NYC Christmas Movie Tour.
Also, you may like a Central Park Movie and TV Tour.
If you like TV series, check out our post on TV Shows Based In NYC, including Sex and the City, Friends, Seinfeld, and many more!
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